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U.S. public vehicle records

2004 Ford EXPLORER problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

1,304 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

65,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 1,090 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 308 of 1,304 complaints (23.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Transmission and shifting38529.5%
Braking behavior13010.0%
Engine operation725.5%
Steering behavior614.7%
Electrical and battery issues292.2%
Fuel system concerns161.2%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Power Train:Automatic Transmission
308
Structure:Body
209
Power Train
108
Structure
80
Visibility
59
Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate:Hinge And Attachments
58
Vehicle Speed Control
55
Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate
54
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Power Train:Automatic Transmission308
Structure:Body209
Power Train108
Structure80
Visibility59
Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate:Hinge And Attachments58
Vehicle Speed Control55
Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate54

Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 308; Structure:Body: 209; Power Train: 108; Structure: 80; Visibility: 59; Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate:Hinge And Attachments: 58; Vehicle Speed Control: 55; Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate: 54

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
183
25,000 to 49,999
194
50,000 to 74,999
266
75,000 to 99,999
205
100,000 to 149,999
162
150,000 and above
80
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,000183
25,000 to 49,999194
50,000 to 74,999266
75,000 to 99,999205
100,000 to 149,999162
150,000 and above80

Under 25,000: 183; 25,000 to 49,999: 194; 50,000 to 74,999: 266; 75,000 to 99,999: 205; 100,000 to 149,999: 162; 150,000 and above: 80

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (266). 214 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2004
88
2005
111
2006
60
2007
94
2008
136
2009
186
2010
175
2011
124
2012
88
2013
55
2014
67
2015
46
2016
23
2017
19
2018
10
2019
10
2020
1
2021
6
2022
1
2023
2
2024
2
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
200488
2005111
200660
200794
2008136
2009186
2010175
2011124
201288
201355
201467
201546
201623
201719
201810
201910
20201
20216
20221
20232
20242

2004: 88; 2005: 111; 2006: 60; 2007: 94; 2008: 136; 2009: 186; 2010: 175; 2011: 124; 2012: 88; 2013: 55; 2014: 67; 2015: 46; 2016: 23; 2017: 19; 2018: 10; 2019: 10; 2020: 1; 2021: 6; 2022: 1; 2023: 2; 2024: 2

Pattern summary

Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 385 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 130 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 72 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10079344 · 2004-07-15 (July 15, 2004)

WHEN PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE IT SURGED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITHOUT ANY INCIDENT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. *AK *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10079344 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10091172 · 2004-09-17 (September 17, 2004)

ENGAGING THE TRANSMISSION IN "REVERSE" IT HESITATES, SLIPS THEN SURGES. LOUD BANGING/CLUNKING NOISES HEARD, SOUNDS LIKE UNIVERSAL JOINT. DEALER STATES PARTS ON ORDER. APPARENTLY THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT TO FORD, DEALER BLAMES IT ON A DEFECTIVE SERVO, SYNCHRO OR SOLINOID. AWAITING NATIONWIDE BACK ORDERED PARTS FROM THE SAME MANUFACTURE, WHAT MAKES ME THINK THAT THIS SAME PART WON'T AGAIN FAIL. WHAT IS FORD'S RESPONSIBILITY REGARDING WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR THE TRANSMISSION WHICH STILL IS ENCOUNTERING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS I AWAIT THE REPAIR PARTS?…

Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10091172 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10078357 · 2004-06-16 (June 16, 2004)

LOUD POP FROM REAR-END. ABS LIGHT,WRENCH,AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. FOUND TO BE A BAD SPEED SENSOR AND DEFECTIVE REAR-END. SUV HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR 2 WEEKS AND NO REAR-END IN SIGHT. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10078357 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10078969 · 2004-06-28 (June 28, 2004)

2004 EDDIE BAUER EXPLORER 4X4: ENGINE FAILED, SAFE MODE WHEN NOTHING APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE. OTHERS ON NEWS GROUPS CLAIM THEY FOUND IT TO BE FAULTY ABS ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10078969 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10056376 · 2004-02-02 (February 2, 2004)

THIS IS INTERMITTENT STALLS, POOR THROTTLE, NO START. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 5,251 miles reported. Look up ODI 10056376 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10087118 · 2004-08-03 (August 3, 2004)

VEHICLE STALLED ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHEN DRIVING DOWN HILLS. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 140 miles reported. Look up ODI 10087118 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10065119 · 2004-03-17 (March 17, 2004)

4THE STEERING WHEEL STICKS INTERMITTENTLY WHEN IT'S TURNED TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT AND DOES NOT RETURN WITHOUT PULLING IT BACK. *PH THIS WAS A MAJOR PROBLEM WHEN PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC OR GOING AROUND A SHARP BEND. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE FORD DEALER THREE TIMES AND WAS TOLD THAT ALL THE NEW EXPLORERS WERE MADE THAT WAY AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT. THERE WAS A BIG CLUNK AT TIMES WHEN BACKING UP AND TURNING TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT. THE RIDE WAS VERY BUMPY AND CAUSED THE OCCUPANTS TO BE THROWN FROM SIDE TO SIDE WHILE DRIVING…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10065119 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10067475 · 2004-04-15 (April 15, 2004)

PROBLEMS WITH THE STARTER AND WHEELS NOT RETURNING TO CENTER POSITION AFTER MAKING A TURN. (NAR) *PH *CB THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE WRONG TYPE OF SWAY BAR HAD BEEN INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE AT THE FACTORY. THE POWER STEERING UNIT WAS THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. THE STEERING WHEEL DID NOT RETURN TO THE CENTER AFTER TURNING, ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNED TO THE RIGHT. THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO PHYSICALLY BRING THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE CENTER, OR IT WOULD CONTINUE RUNNING OF THE ROAD. *SC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10067475 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10100176 · 2004-11-19 (November 19, 2004)

CAR HAS A HARD TIME ENGAGING INTO GEAR, WHEN BACKING UP IT FEELS LIKE I'VE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE JUST JUMPS IN REVERS.I HAVE ALMOST RAN OVER SOMEONE BECAUSE OF A DELAY IN ENGAGING INTO REVERSE. IN DRIVE IT DOES THE SAME THING. I WORRY THAT I AM GOING TO HIT A CAR THAT MIGHT BE PARKED IN FRONT OF ME OR EVEN A PERSON. NOT ONLY THAT I WORRY THAT IF I DID HIT ANOTHER CAR I WOULDN'T KNOW THAT I DID IT. THE CAR HAS HAD PROBLEMS STARTING. IT HAS LEFT US ALMOST STRANDED TWICE. THE CARS BATTERY HAS DIED FOR NO REASON, EVEN AFTER DRIVING A COU…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,095 miles reported. Look up ODI 10100176 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10100752 · 2004-11-30 (November 30, 2004)

COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE GAUGE POD, RADIO, INTERIOR LIGHTS, POWER WINDOWS AT 2,300 MILES. NO SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER, TACH, FUEL GAUGE, TEMP, OIL, BATTERY, RADIO (NOTHING IN THE DASHBOARD FUNCTIONS EXCEPT THE AIRBAG LIGHT). *AK FORD DEALER IN ALLENTOWN PA WAS VERY RUDE AND WENT OUT OF THEIR WAY TO NOT WORK IN A TIMELY MANNER AND KEEP US IN THE DARK. DROVE VEHICLE TO TEXAS (WITH NO GAUGES) TO DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED. AT THE SHOP RIGHT NOW. TRANSMISSION ALSO HESITATES EXCESSIVELY BETWEEN SHIFTS.

Owner-reported narrative. 2,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10100752 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10067239 · 2004-04-15 (April 15, 2004)

WHILE FILLING UP THE FUEL TANK GASOLINE GAUGE REGISTERED FALSE READING. CONSUMER HAD A FULL TANK OF GASOLINE THAT DAY. THE NEXT DAY THE GASOLINE GAUGE REGISTERED A HALF OF A TANK. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT THERE WAS NO SOLUTION FOR THE PROBLEM. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10067239 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10107723 · 2005-01-22 (January 22, 2005)

FORD EXPLORER 2004 - XLT - GAS GAUGE READS INCORRECTLY FOLLOWING FUELING VEHICLE (FULL TANK). GAUGE WILL DISPLAY 1/2 TANK. OCCURRED THREE TIMES OVER 60 DAY PERIOD. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. CHECK GAUGES, FUEL TANK SENSOR, ETC. GAUGE IS WORKING NORMALLY AT THIS TIME. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 9,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10107723 at NHTSA ↗